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Spring 2024 Retail Lab Graduates 14 Local Entrepreneurs

Posted in Cabarrus Center News, Our Partners, Press Releases, Programs, Retail Lab.

On Wednesday, May 8, fourteen local entrepreneurs celebrated their completion of the Retail Lab Boot Camp. The program is tailored to address the complex issues that arise when opening and operating a retail establishment. The graduates of Retail Lab completed a six-week immersive boot camp that concluded with the opportunity to pitch for grant funding. This cohort featured a mixture of ventures ranging from a new record shop concept to a refreshing take on Bloody Mary mixes. All participants in the program shared...

Flywheel Foundation, Retail Lab, Small Business Center

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Two More Retail Lab Graduates Open Brick-and-Mortar Stores

Posted in Retail Lab.

The Palmetto Market and Cellar Door Wine Shop are among a growing list of Retail Lab graduates to open brick-and-mortar stores in the area. The Retail Lab was established at the Cabarrus Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship through a partnership between the Small Business Center at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and the Flywheel Foundation. The program is designed to help early stage and pre-launch retail business owners through a six-week boot camp focusing on business basics, strategy, branding and marketing,...

Retail Lab

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Fall 2023 Retail Lab Graduates 9 Local Entrepreneurs

Posted in Press Releases, Retail Lab.

Nine local entrepreneurs celebrated their completion of the Fall 2023 Retail Lab Boot Camp—a program tailored to address the complex nature of starting and operating a retail establishment. The graduates of Retail Lab completed an application-based, six-week immersive boot camp, which concluded with the opportunity to pitch for grant funding. This cohort featured regional ventures, including a wine shop, innovative clothing brands, an international gift shop, and delicious food items. All participants in the program...

Flywheel Coworking, Retail Lab, Small Business Center at RCCC

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The Cabarrus Center Retail Lab Graduates 14 Local Entrepreneurs, Awards 5 Grants

Posted in Press Releases, Programs, Retail Lab.

Fourteen local entrepreneurs are celebrating their graduation from the Retail Lab Boot Camp—a program created in 2021 to address the complex nature of starting and operating a retail establishment. The 14 graduates of Retail Lab completed an application-based, six-week immersive boot camp on May 3. The following week, twelve of the graduates chose to pitch for members of the Entrepreneurship Council for $2,500 micro-grants. Five of the twelve were successfully awarded the grants. Olivia Van Etten, founder of Blondie...

Retail Lab Boot Camp

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Cabarrus Center Retail Lab Graduates 14 Local Entrepreneurs, Awards 5 Micro-Grants

Posted in Cabarrus Center News, Press Releases, Programs, Retail Lab.

Fourteen local entrepreneurs have completed the Fall 2022 Retail Lab Boot Camp—a program established in 2021 to address the complex nature of starting and operating a retail establishment. Entrepreneurs from Cabarrus, Rowan and Mecklenburg counties participated in the program, completing the application-based, six-week immersive boot camp in early November 2022. Five of the graduates were also awarded $2,500 micro-grants after pitching for the members of the Cabarrus Center’s Entrepreneurship Council. Juan Irby,...

Retail Lab Boot Camp, Retail Lab Pop Up Store

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Cabarrus Center Announces Fall Cohort of Retail Lab Boot Camp

Posted in Press Releases, Programs, Retail Lab.

On Wednesday, September 28, the Cabarrus Center welcomed a new cohort of fourteen entrepreneurs into the Retail Lab Boot Camp program. The six-week immersive boot camp began in the fall of 2021 as a program to support local entrepreneurs in the early stages of starting a retail business. A partnership between the Small Business Center at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and the Flywheel Foundation, the curriculum consists of instructor-led sessions supplemented by a self-directed Learning Management System. The program...

Retail Lab Boot Camp

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Retail Lab Graduate to Open Its First Brick-and-Mortar Location

Posted in Cabarrus Center News, Press Releases, Programs, Retail Lab.

Rockers Rejoice! Local Guitar Shop Opens in Downtown Kannapolis! The Cabarrus Center is thrilled to announce the grand opening of J. King Guitar at 201 Oak Avenue in downtown Kannapolis on Saturday, September 3 from 11:00am to 6:00pm! J. King Guitar founder, Jack King, graduated from the Cabarrus Center’s Retail Lab Boot Camp earlier this year. This program provides early stage and pre-launch retailers in Cabarrus and Rowan counties with six weeks of immersive, application-based training focusing on business...

J King Guitar, Retail Lab, Retail Lab Boot Camp

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Cabarrus Center Retail Lab Graduates 10 Local Entrepreneurs, Awards 5 Grants

Posted in Cabarrus Center News, Press Releases, Programs, Retail Lab.

Ten local entrepreneurs are celebrating their graduation from the Retail Lab Boot Camp—a new program created in 2021 to address the complex nature of starting and operating a retail establishment. The 10 graduates of Retail Lab completed an application-based, six-week immersive boot camp on May 4. The following week, five of the graduates chose to pitch for members of the Entrepreneurship Council for $2,500 micro-grants. All five of them were successfully awarded the grants. Bethann McGinnis, owner of Little Beautiful...

Retail Lab, Small Business Center at RCCC, The Flywheel Foundation

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Cabarrus Center Celebrates Retail Lab Pop Up Store Grand Opening

Posted in Press Releases, Retail Lab.

Six Retail Lab graduates launch their businesses inside new co-op store in Downtown Concord On Wednesday, April 13 at noon, new local retailers will cut the ribbon to officially open the Retail Lab Pop Up Store at the Cabarrus Center in downtown Concord. The idea for the Retail Lab Pop Up Store was birthed after the completion of the Cabarrus Center’s first Retail Lab Boot Camp program in the fall of 2021. Members of the cohort were offered the opportunity to pitch for the use of the Retail Lab space in the Cabarrus...

Retail Lab Pop Up Store

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